Galwey: Quinlan is innocent

The flanker was cited for alleged eye-gouging in the Heineken Cup semi-final reverse at Croke Park against Leinster. TV replays suggested that his rival, Leo Cullen, was in considerable discomfort.

A lengthy ban awaits the native of Tipperary should his guilt be proven, but ex-Irish legend Galwey has rushed to his defense.

"Yes: Alan Quinlan's hand made contact with Leo Cullen, but if there were an issue here, Leo Cullen would be the first one to put his hand up and say there was some sort of gouging involved.

"Leo hasn't done that and neither has the Leinster Branch. That's the thing about rugby: if someone did gouge you, it would be reported - but it wasn't," the former Munster skipper told the Evening Echo. "I've been eye-gouged in my time and it's something no player would stand for.

"People might think it's a cover-up, but it's certainly not. There's no place in the game for that type of thing and I know for a fact that Alan didn't do it.